Customer Reviews

Open Wide: Tooth School Inside

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am an adult, but I'm a big fan of Laurie Keller's two books. "Open Wide" is an hilarious, creative book about teeth which I thoroughly enjoyed even though, the day before, I had myself been through a painful dentist appointment. I knwo a couple of young children who read and loved Laurie's first book, "The Scrambled States of America" and I would imagine children will get a huge kick out of this one also. Her depiction of an elementary school environment, even though it's one filled with students who are teeth, is very accurate and observant and her illustrations are wonderful.

Open Wide Tooth School Inside is a silly, funny, fast paced book for the whole family. Smart, hip text with a disguised lesson about tooth care and the dentist. Terrific, colorful illustrations. And even a quiz to let kids show what they've learned. Just an all around great book.

After "Scrambled States," what else can a children's book author come up with? Plenty, if you happen to be Laurie Keller, and envision the mouthful of human teeth as a "school."

Kids will recognize many elements of the classroom setting here, including familiar "types" of students -- both dilligent and smarmy. The teeth learn their oral hygiene lessons from Dr. Flossman, but not without many a well-aimed pun and off-the-cuff wisecrack. A good dose of factual material craftily sneaks its way into all the silly stuff. Keller has a sure sense of what holds the interest of kids. I met her at a book signing, and she said she was inspired by Dr. Suess, among others, as a child. With this, her second book, she is well on her way to establishing herself as a children's author in the excitingly fresh tradition of her childhood idol. But her style is all her own.

Kids will cherish this book... if you allow them to pry it from your own hands. (By the way, tell your dentist about this one!)

This book has it all-- hilarious puns, wisecracks, and every tooth joke you can imagine!

The author has taken a boring, overvisited subject, that of oral hygiene, and dressed it up humourously, with a book that will have you laughing until you cry.

the illustrations are crude but hilarious. The "characters" in the book are wacky. This gets across the hygiene message very well, if the student can get past the humour to see the message, and get past the book's funky layout to absorb any information. Older picture book fans, perhaps age 5 and 6, and young readers will love this book. SOME younger children will enjoy it also, but the layout and style will be a tad overwhelming and confusing for the very young.

If you like _Dr. Dog_, by Babette Cole, you'll love _Open Wide, Tooth School Inside_. If the hilarious, chaotic, don't-mind-if-we-gross-you-out style appeals to you, I bet you'll like both _Dr. Dog_ and _Open Wide, Tooth School Inside_.

Incidentally, adult fans of this style of humor will love it too.

ken32

My 4-year-old and I have really enjoyed Keller's book, "The Scrambled States of America". I ordered this title in hopes of getting a similar home run.

The artwork is great, and Keller's highly non-linear style is still a big hit with my son. For me, though, the storyline doesn't quite gel. Very little is happening in "Open Wide: Tooth School Inside". Instead, we get a recitation of facts about teeth, with large doses of humor thrown in.

Don't get me wrong, Nebraska. It's still a good book, just not up to the greatness that was "The Scrambled States of America".

The timing of this book was great. I received it the week of my 4 year olds first cleaning. He made me read it every day and laughed louder each time. When we went to the dentist, she was floored that he knew about incisors, premolars and wisdom teeth. Buy a copy for yourself and one for your child's dentist!

My Kids and I all enjoy this book many times! My son was the first one I read it to (5yrs old) and after that first reading, he could correctly answer all the questions at the end. I'm bringing it to show our dentist. The best kids book (I learned some things, too) about teeth that we've read!

I am a school nurse that teaches oral hygiene. I use this book constantly for every grade level, even in my pregnant minor program. My 5 year old daughter loves this book as her bedtime story book, and has learned more about teeth then most adults. She loves the little side-talk of the different teeth. A fun and entertaining way to introduce oral hygiene and the ramifications of not brushing. I even gave a copy to my dentist! Julie Hart-Lawson RN/ San Diego City Schools

* I LAUGHED SO HARD MY TEETH HURT! * An inspiration to anyone, old or young, who hates to floss! * Laurie Keller is unlike any other, a brilliant and inspired thinker who shares with us through her bizarre writing and drawing * a true artist of our time * This book will be a classic * Bring a copy of this book to your dentist (they don't get out much! )

this is a wonderful book. It's better suited for reading with a small group rather than with a class. The asides are lost with a class. Even so my class walked away with an amazing amount of new knowledge about their teeth